Cleaner or applicator



Jan. 29, 1935. E KURTZ Er AL CLEANER 0R APPLIVCATOR original Filed April 8, 1933 INVENTORS fo/n/zrc/ echar 'VenW/s /M/ 5 vitreous enamel, glazed sur lPatented Jan. 29, 1935 CLEANER R APPLICATOR Edward Kurtz, Leonard J. Kurtz, and Vernus L.

Kurtz, Cleveland, Ohio; said Leonard J. Kurtz and said Vernus L. Kurtz assignors Kurtz The principal object of this vide an exceedingly simple a cleaning device, or for smooth surfaces such as cleaner applicator glass, polished metal, faces, polished stone,

to Edward Appucation' April s, 193s, serial No. 665,062

Renewed August 3, 1934 `11 Claims. (Cl. 15-126) invention is to prond highly effective particularly (marble e. g.) etc.; also to provide a new method of supplying More specifically cleaning fluid to an applicator.

the objects include the provision of an unusually convenient cleaning device or applicator including a reservoir for safely carrying and adequately supplying the cleaning medium; a soft, pliable cleaner device or applicator which may be easily and safely carried on the person, as in the pocket of the user although charged with cleaning fluid; a cleaning or applicating sponge which requires no auxiliary equipment `(water bucket e. g.) a rubber sponge which has a vreservoir capable of and/or detergent will not drip in to place; a sponge having holding sufficient fluid e. g. for ing operations without refilling and which being carried from place extensive cleana highly convenreasonably dry andtherefore safe and easy to handle with the bare notwithstanding weather hands in accurate fashion temperature and, generally speaking, notwithstanding the character of the fluid used, and an applicator with a reservoir capable of being very quickly A further specific object is and easily refilled. the provision of an improved applicator for a cleaning medium such as fine silicate powder in susp vehicle.

Other objects and become apparent from ension in a suitable features of the invention will the following description relating to the preferred embodiments illustrated herewith.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view ferred apparatus for hand use;

showing the pre- Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken as indicated on Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary sectional view of a modiiied sponge;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of in Figs. 2 and 3;

a valve member .shown Fig. 5 is a view showing a modified valve member and a modied arrangement sponge;

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing ified arrangement ber;

Figs. 'l and 8 'are views simil modified forms;

of applicator particularly a modof openings inthe valve memar to Fig. 3 showing strength of the Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 of still another modification;v

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation (partly in section, see line 10-10 on Fig. 11) showing a convenient form of operating handle for enabling cleaning of surfaces normally out of reach of an operator; and I Fig. l1 is an elevation y(partly broken away) taken at a right angle to Fig. 10.

A highly effective manner of cleaning windows 10. .and hard smooth or polished surfaces is to apply a slightly abrasive dampened powder thereto as with a sponge or cloth which upon drying cleans .and polishes the surf ace while being wiped olf with a dry cloth orchamois skin. Such powder (sold both in dry powder and cake form-,hasbeen marketed for years-an example being the product Bon Ami, trade name). Ordinarily this requires a supply of water as part of the equipment and various receptacled devices have been marketed with the view to obviating the necessity for a water bucket. `Such of these devices as are now availablejto4 the public have certain ydisadvantagesexamples being: tendency to leak, excessive bulk, difficulty of refilling, lack of pliability, inadaptability for applying the cleaning medium to relatively inaccessible recesses and corners, danger of smearing the cleaning medium on surfaces adjacent the surfaces to be cleaned or polished and diiiiculty of cleaning the device itself when necessary. The present invention effectively overcomes these disadvantages in the provision Aof a cleaner or applicator of the class above discussed, though its use is not confined to any particular typejofv cleaning orpolishing operation as will be readily appreciated from the following detailed description and claims. l

Referring again to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 3 show the preferred proportions and shape for the specific uses mentioned above. A main body and 4o reservoir is shown atl, a sponge elementat 2 and a valve device for controlling passage of fluid from the reservoir to the sponge at 3. These parts may be combined, beingall preferably of rubber, in other words, the parts mentioned. are

not necessarily separate parts.

The body 1 comprises-as shown, a hollow body or shell of fairly strong though pliable rubber or its equivalent, say about the consistency and rubber used for syringe bulbs and suction cups. Other materials than rubber may `be usedbut preferably having substantially equivalent characteristics. The body may be generally rounded on top as Shown and has a skirt portion 5 at the bottom edge preferably ob- 55 versely ofthe vstrip long in cross section (shown as rectangular) adjacent which, on the inner surface of the body is a plain surface 6 and plain shoulder '7, the latter being formed on an inwardly extending flange or rib 8, extending continuously about the inside of the body.

Suitable strengthening ribbing is rshownfon the exterior surface of the body, there being arched transverse ribs l at the rangement of continuous faces. The ribbing may be considerably modified and functions to assist in preserving the shape-of the body as well as to facilitate holding the body firmly in the hand, in use.

The body is normally the valve element 3 which, vas shown inFigsQ and 3, maybe attached to the vsurfaces'f and .7 (or one only of these surfaces) as by suitable cement or by vulcanization.

The applicator element 2 comprises as shown a rectangular blcckfor strip of sponge rubber. This is preferablydof fairly dense structure and withintercommunicating cells. YA highly suitable-grade is sold as interlocking cell sponge. The sponge preferably has the skin removed from all surfaces though the skin may be left on the upper surface (adjacent the valve element 3) ifsuitably perforated vto admit flui from the receptacle. Also such skin may be found useful Vin holding the sponge-in shape. Likewise skin may be present on all the side margins of the strip for preventing the fluid from eXuding from the vertical surfaces of the sponge. This is not preferred at the present time as the most suitable 'sponge now obtainable -is made in large sheets and cut to the desired sizes. The sponge is cemented to the surface 6, continuously about the body; The skirt 5 forms a guard normally preventing contact between the sponge and surfaces normal to those to be cleaned. The skirt may extend' down over the entire side surfaces of the sponge if desired though this has not been found necessary reither for securing the sponge vorto provide an effective guard.

vA suitable filler opening is illustrated at 15v and this is preferably in countersunk effect, principally to provide for guarding the plug or stopper i6 against 'being accidentally unseated. The 'countersunk'effect should be such as to provide adequate space at opposite sides of the stopper to Vpermit ready removal of the latter in the usual jfashion',-see Fig. 3.

Referring now to the valve element, this is of resilient rubber (about like tire'- tube rubber) and has as shown'in Figs; 2, Band 4, a suitable arrangement-ofplain sli'ta'these: being arranged both longitudinally of the strip as-'at 20a, transas at 2Gb; fand diagonally of the strip as -to 20c. 'Iheslits are-preferably-cut directly through the rubber body as by meansof a very sharp knife and are-preferably no longer than l/i ofan inch, though the "extent depends somewhat on the thickness of the rubber stock, that is it may be longer if the stock is thicker.

Instead 'of'passing normaltothe sheet, the slits may be formed as in Fig. 6, namely; in downwardly Y converging arrangement.' There lis an advantage in locating the apertures centrally of the sponge because this results in delivering much less of the fluid to the edges ofthe sponge where it may, the device is carelessly handled, smear the framework ofk the surface being cleaned.

' In operation the valve slits 20a, `20Zi"and 20c are closed when the rubber strip 3 is undistor'ted and will very esecuveiy heid lback the uid even top and a suitable arribs 1l on the side surwhenever the side body walls closed at the' bottom by that instead of provi is sufficiently stretched coex'tensi've with the sponge.

though under considerable hydrostatic pressure. Upon distortion of the strip, however, certain of the slits will be opened. Distortion of the rubber sheet 3 may be accomplished in many ways, but the usual operation is that the strip is stretched ina direction normal to the direction the body 1 is squeezed, thus 'opening the slits. is because the end body walls are forced outwardly are pressed toward each other and since the strip is secured to the end Abody walls as well as to the sides, the strip is necessarily stretched longitudinally. This will, of course, open the slits 2012 and likewise in most cases such diagonal slits as at 20c. If, on the other hand, the operator squeezes the body endwise as bypressing inwardly on the end walls, then the-side walls will be forced apart thus stretching the sheet 3 and pulling open the longitudinally arranged slits 20a.

Another manner in which the slits may be "openedby distortion of the valve member is to lwrinkles the strip 3 prying some of the slits open. No matter how the slits are forced open. the squeezing pressure on the body naturally exerts pressure on the fluid inside the body and forces a portion of it through the slits and into and through the cell structure of the sponge.

Upon release of such squeezing pressure the bulb action of in the, sponge structure back into the reservoir since this sucking action is suicient to distort the rubber sheet 3 upwardly sufficiently to at least crack the slits from below (probably by stretching them open). This sucking action just described makesr it possible to replenish the supply of fluid in the reservoir through the sponge,-as one would fill the bulb of a syringe. Such manner of filling' the body is not recommended because the filling operation then leaves the sponge in soaked condition and it may drip.

A modication is illustrated in Fig. 5 showing ing slits in the member 3 very small holes 20d may be provided, preferably not exceeding l/64 of an inch, but preferably such that one may actually see through the perforations with the rubber unstretched. These act as follows: ordinarily the surface tension of the cleaning fluid is such that irrespective of positive or negative pressure in the body, liquid will not flow through the perforations; but upon application of pressure as by squeezing the body the surface tension on the liquid is overcome and the fluid forced from the body and into the sponge structure. If the perforations 20d are merely punctures these will be forced open if the rubber downwardly by squeezing the body. In case of using mere punctures then the 'stock forming the valve element should be much thinner than as shown.

Fig. 5 also illustrates that as ama'tter of assembly the rubber Valve element 3 may be secured to the upper surface of the sponge member 2 at the marginal edges of the strip 3. Also the skin may be left on the upper surface of the sponge as at 2a,

in which case the element 3 does not have to be The sponge skin in such case is also perforated below the member -3, or' removed, preferably it is suitably cut when the slits etc. are formed. The strip'f is preferthe body sucks the fluid remaining f lelement shown in Fig.

Ato the sponge body than accordance with the above .a valve, normally precluding the passage of liquid to and through the sponge cell structure but passfthe body to the valve element.

,ably attached to the sponge skin only at the -edges of the strip (extent of attached margin indicated by dotted line X) thus leaving the rubber of the strip 3 free of the sponge at the valve apertures so that the rubber may be freely distorted as above described or in any other way to cause the apertures to admit liquid to pass therethrough. The arrangement of sponge and valve 5 faci 'tates assembly as it is much simpler to attach the element 3 as a patch to properly secure the 'edges of the valve member to the body 1.

The valve element may be combined i. e. made integrally with the sponge; for example, as shown in Fig. 3a, the sponge rubber skin 2a of the sponge 2 may be suitably apertured as at 20h' in description to act as ing such liquid upon distortion of the sponge skin, or upon application of pressure sufficient to force the liquid through.

If a squeegee is desired, say in cleaning windows, this may be provided by means of forming. -a flange or outstanding web as at 21 along the reinforced skirt portion of the body at one side thereof. Such squeegee could be otherwise located on the body if desired; on top `for example.

Referring to Fig. 7 this illustrates another manner of operating the slits, shown at 20" to open them than by stretching the rubber strips forming the valve in a direction normal to the application of squeezing pressure on the body. In this case the body is provided interiorly thereof and in close proximity to the valve strip or body with a relatively stiff or rigid plate l?5 having suitable openings to permit passage of liquid from wall is made suiciently strong opposite the plate or in the plane of it so that as the upper side walls vare forced toward each other the side walls in ithe plane of the plate act as levers to stretch the rubber valve element 3" thereby opening the slits. The plate may lie directly` upon the valve member 3" over the entire surface of the latter to hold the .same against being bowed `upwardly by the sponge-(not illustrated) vThe Fig. 7 arrangement does not have all the advantages of the forms previouslyv described as the body 1" cannot, of course, be squeezed along the plane of the plate 25 or bent at this region hence the device cannot be sufciently distorted to enable applying the cleaning medium properly in cramped quarters.

" Fig. 8 illustrates that the valve element may be combined with the body 13. The body in such lcase would be made from halves, in the usual manner of making hollow rubber articles from sheet stock and may as a matter of choice be circular in cross section. Fig. 8 also illustrates amodied arrangement of valve slit at 30, the slits A(one shown) being formed in a rib effect 31. The slits are opened by pressure on the body J.3 parallel to the slits. To facilitate filling the reservoir by the bulb action above described or to -facilitate clearing of the sponge cells of residue fluid as above described the slits may be given a tendency to open from below by V-shaped grooves 32 communicating with the slits. The Fig. 8 arrangement has a special advantage in that there are no cemented joints closing the bottom of the receptacle and therefore accidental leakage of fluid from the reservoir is rendered even less likely to occur.

Referring to Fig. 9 this shows an arrangement Also the side body -33 to sealingly hold a valve forming' strip 34v in 1 substantially unstretched condition for normally closing the body 14 at the bottom. The sponge element 2b as shown is supported by a fairlystiif rubber retainer 34, depending flanges of which continuously embrace the periphery of the sponge. The sponge retainer may be securedvto vthe"valve element 34 along the marginal portions of the latter or, in suitable fashion (not shown) to the body 14. The sponge may comprise originally'a flat block or sheet as in the previously described arrangements but which when mounted in the retainer is normally bowed downwardly thereby as shown in Fig. 9. When the sponge yispforced against a at surface such as indicated at S,.,the sponge will, of course, become flattenedagainst this surface and through the medium ofthe thickened overlying portions of the retainer 34 the strip 34 will be bowed upwardly as indicated in broken lines thereby opening the slits in the valve strip 34 (or stretching the small openings to enlarge them in case small perforations e. g. are used instead of slits).

To admit air to the interior of the body,'when necessary to equalize pressure inside and out, a suitable valve may be incorporated in the stopper 16a. As shown this has a slit at 16a communicating with a V-shaped recess 16a operable as by means of the thumb andl finger of the hand squeezing the top of the stopper crosswise of the V to force the slit open. The Stoppers vin Figs. l to 3 may, of course, also be provided with a suitable pressure relief valve, say accordingto Fig. 9.

In any form of the device shown the body 1,

etc` may be provided with suitable loops, straps, hooks and the like (not illustrated) to assist the user in firmly holding the body or to provide for securing the device, say to the operators belt or other personal equipment.

Figs. and 11 illustrate a suitable device for operating the cleaner in positions out of reach of an operator and this comprises a hollow handle 35 having a bar 36 engaging the under side of the body 1 in operating position, and a rod 37 sldable in the handle and equipped with a bar 38 engaging the upper side surface of the body. The bars 36 and 38 may seat in suitable sockets 39 formed on or attached to the body 1 or in-suit- .able slits in ear members formed on the body as desired. The members 35 `and 37 may be operated by a projection 40 extending through a suitable slot in the member 35 in position to be borne .downwardly bythe operators thumb, thus squeezing the body 1 of the cleaner device.

Referring again to the arrangements of Figs. 1

,to 3 and 7 particularly it will .be seen that replacement of the sponge and likewise Athe valve element, if necessary, is simply a matter of .loosening the cement joints holding these parts, as by brief apture andattacking the joints, alcohol and other spirits may be used instead of water, either as the essential cleaning fluid or as avehicle for cleaning powder etc. Thus the drying period may-be hastened and, moreover, cleaning operations oarried on in extremely low temperatures.

' We claim:A

. .1. A cleaner or applicator device, kcomprising a hollow body adapted to contain liquid, a sponge .body having an intercommunicating cell structure and being otherwise substantially impervforate supported on said hollow body, one of said bodies being flexible, valve means interposed between the sponge body and the interior of the hollow body, said means beingV in peripherally sealed relation tothe interior of the hollow body, said men/ns -including a valve having a discharge passage across which the sponge is disposed, said valve means being arranged to block the flow of liquid from the hollow body to the sponge body when the liquid in the hollow body is subjected to atmospheric pressure, said valve means being operable consequent upon flexing of the iiexible bodyto discharge liquid therethrough and into the intercommunicating cell structure of the Sponge. r

2. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a compressibl'e hollow body 'adapted to contain liquid, 'a sponge element having an intercommunicating cel-'l structure and being otherwise substantially imperforate supported on said body, -a weblike valve member comprising soft elastic rubber interposed between the sponge element and hollow interior of the body, said member having passages therethrough so related in size to the thickness of 'the member that the passages normally block now of liquid fromthe body to the sponge element when the liquid inthe body is subjected to atmospheric pressure but to discharge liquid from the body to the sponge element for dispersion through the .cell structure thereof consequent upon increase of pressure in the body above atmospheric pressure.

3. A cleaner or applicator comprising a resilient `compressible hollow body having a continuous peripheral side wall and a top wall, said side Wall being ofsuch resiliency and thickness that inwardpressure on oppositely disposed portions of the peripheral wall of the body causes 'other relatively opposite portions of the peripheral Wall to bow outwardly of the body, a sponge element having an intercommunicating cell structure disposed beneath the body and `secured thereto, and means to control the flow of liquid from the body onto the inwardly vdisposed face of the Sponge, said means comprising an elastic member operably connected to said other relatively opposite portions for stretching consequent upon 'outward bowing thereof, and a slit in said elastic 'member angularly disposed to the direction of stretch of said elastic member. 4. lA -cleanerbr applicator, comprising a hollow resilient rubber body formed` with an open face, applicator or cleaner element'comprising a pad of sponge rubber having an intercommunicating cell structure secured in said body across the open face, and a discharge valve: device comprising an elastic'member having its periphery or margin operably connected to and in continuously sealed relation to the body and having :an'elongated slit therethrough adapted to discharge liquid from the body to the sponge Astructure upon stretching the valve device by squeezingthe hollow body in a direction lengthwise `of the slit.

y5. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a hollow rubber body formed with an open face, a sponge element having van in ercommunicating cell structure secured in said body across said open face, a ycontinuous shoulder 'formed on the body interiorly thereof adjacent the sponge element, and a flexible sheet overlying the sponge element and se- `the body to the sponge weapon cured tofth'e shoulder, said sheet having openings therethrough :capable of normally blocking passage o'f iiuid from the body to the sponge element, 'said sheet being otherwise imperforate,

ysaid 'openings being operative to discharge vfluid from the body to the sponge upon application of external pressure yon said body lin a direction substantially parallel tothe plane of the sheet.

6. A cleaner or applicator, comprising ahollow rubber body, -a sponge element supported on said body, a wall interposed between the 'sponge element and vthe hollow interior of the body, said wall having perforations of such size as to pre- 'clude flow of liquid therethrough from 'the body to the sponge by reason of the surface `tension of the liquid when the interior of the body 4is in commiuiication with the atmosphere other than through said p'erioration's, said body being compressible whereby liquid may be discharged through said perforations. Y

7. A cleaner or applicator., comprising a-hollow body formed with an open face, a sponge-rubber applicator or-cleaner element secured in said body across the open fa'ce and a valve device comprishaving its periphery or margin in vcontinuously sealed relation to the body andhaving slits therethrough and forming the only means of communication for liquid from the body to the sponge, the elastic member being Sfree from the sponge in the region of the sli-ts and marginally secured to the sponge, said slits distort the said member. v

8. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a hollow resilient body adapted to be collapsed by pressure of the human hand and capable of returning to its original shape, said body being formed with an open face, a sponge rubber applicator or cleaner member subtending said kopen face and having an intercommunicating cell structure, 'the applicator being in peripherally sealed relation to the body, an elastic valve member having a 'series of relatively short slits therethrough in yangular' relationship to each other, said sli-ts normally blocking ow of liquid from the body to the sponge 'and operable upon vapplication of external pressure on` the hollow body to discharge liquid from the body ontothe inner faceV of the sponge. 9. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a hollow body of resilient material adapted to be ycollapsed by pressure of the human hand and having ribbing thereon cooperating with 'the resilient mate- 1 rial for causing the body toy return to its original shape, said body being formed with an open face, or lcleaner member subt'ending said open face, and means to control the now of liquid from the body to the sponge and to discharge liquid thereto upon application of pressure aforesaid. 1'0. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a. hcl'- low resilient rubber body adapted to contain liquid and being substantially closed on all sides, a sponge element supported on said body and comprising a sponge rubber pad having an intercommunicating cell structure and being otherwise imperforate, an integral portion of the Wall of said body forming a vflexible Web-between the sponge element and hollowinterior of the body, said Vweb having `a passage therethrough, the wall of which is adapted to block flow of liquid from element when liquid in the body is subjected to atmospheric pressure, said passage being operable to discharge liquid onto the inwardly disposed face of the sponge element when the body is squeezed.

11. A cleaner or applicator, comprising an elongated resilient compressible hollow body adapted to nt the human hand, a sponge element supported on said body, meansto control passage of liquid from the body to the sponge element and a guard device extending from the body about the periphery of the sponge and beyond all portions of the latter when the latter is in forcible contact with a surface to be cleaned.

12. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a low yielding receptacle adapted to be collapsed by pressure of the human hand and capable of returning to its original shape, a sponge element secured on said receptacle, a skirt integral with said body and extending substantially continuously about the periphery of the sponge element, said skirt extending outwardly beyond the margin of the sponge when the latter is materially compressed and spread out in operation, whereby Contact between the sponge and surfaces normal to the surface being cleaned and adjacent the latter is minimized.

13. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a hollow body open at the bottom, a sponge-rubber member supported on said body across the open bottom, and having rubber skin on one surface, closing the cell structure, the skin of the spongerubber normally blocking passage of liquid from the body to the cellular structure of the sponge, said skin being in peripherally sealed relation to the interior wall of the body, and openings in said skin normally closed to confine such liquid in the body and operable consequent upon distortion of said body to open communication between the body and sponge.

14. A cleaner or applicator, comprising an elongated resilient compressible hollow body open at the bottom, means closing said bottom comprising a sponge-rubber strip with rubber skin on one surface thereof the skin Abeing uppermost and in sealed relation to sad body, and a valve strip secured to the sponge skin along the margins of said strip and free therefrom at the central portion, passages through the strip and sponge skin and operable to normally hold back the flow of liquid to the sponge but permitting such flow when the resilient body is compressed.

Vl5. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a hollow rubber body, a sponge element mounted on the body, means to communicate the sponge with the interior of the body, and a handle device including means adapted to squeeze the body, and means on the handle remote from the body to effect such squeezing action.

16. A cleaner or applicator, comprising a resilient rubber body adapted to contain liquid, said body being formed with an open face and with a reinforcing rib adjacent said face, a spongerubber applicator or cleaner member subtending said open face and secured to said reinforcing rib continuously about the periphery of the sponge, and a squeegee element integral with said rib and extending along one side of said body and projecting outwardly therefrom.

17. A window cleaner, comprising a hollow body of resilient material having a rounded topl portion adapted to generally t the human hand and to be collapsed by pressure thereof, the top portion having ribbing thereon cooperating with the resilient material for causing the body to return to its original shape, a sponge-rubber pad secured to said body, the cell structure of the sponge being adapted to communicate with the body for receiving liquid therefrom when the body is compressed, the body having portions thereof extending downwardly at all the vertical edges of the pad to reinforce the pad and prevent the same from contacting with the frame portions of windows being cleaned.

VERNUS L. KURTZ. EDWARD KURTZ. LEONARD J .KURTZ 

